Wedding venue in Blue Ridge, GA for couples in West Palm Beach, FL

What's Inside:

If you ever wondered why snowbirds flock down to South Florida during the weather, it's largely in part due to Henry Flagler.Flagler played a pivotal role in the development of Florida, transforming it from a sparsely populated region into a bustling state with a robust tourism industry. He built railways connecting the north to Florida, built luxury hotels, and played a large role in urban development in places such as Palm Beach.

Flagler helped establish the state's reputation as a prime location for winter retreats for wealthy northerners.

NEW EXHIBIT

The museum's new exhibit, "In the Golden Dreamland of Winter: Henry Flagler's FEC Hotel Company," addresses his impact on the Sunshine State. It dives into the trailblazing Florida East Coast Hotel Company with fun facts like:

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"The Hotel Royal Poinciana on Palm Beach was the largest wooden structure ever built. The dining room could hold 1500 guests," said Campbell Mobley, who serves as curator for the Flagler Museum.

DINING ROOM RESTORATION

The Flagler Museum, also known as Whitehall, is a historic building that has a fascinating history, having transitioned from a luxurious home to a prestigious club, and now standing as a renowned museum.

The formal dining room; if you've ever watched one of those shows like Bridgerton or the Gilded Age, the newly renovated space at the Flagler Museum feels like one of those sets.

"This is a project that really began 65 years ago with the founder of our museum, Jean Flagler Matthews, she's the granddaughter of Henry Flagler. She caught wind at the original dining room table for Whitehall was in an insurance company in Chicago. Through decades and decades of trying to get this table back, we finally did in 2019 and we realized that we had the table conserved. And as the conservators were undergoing stripping of the table, we quickly realized that it was satinwood. Then we realized the entire room was satinwood; It's incredibly rare. It's something that only during Henry Flaggler's time due to his amount of wealth a room like this could have been created," said Mobley.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Whitehouse dining room in 2007 versus 2014

Satinwood is considered relatively rare, especially the high-quality varieties used in fine woodworking and luxury items.

WEST PALM BEACH - Wearing white shorts, 80-year-old Michael Jeffries walked out of federal court on Tuesday afternoon after posting a $10 million bond, and putting up as collateral a house in Fisher Island, New York.

A short time later, the former CEO of Abercombie and Fitch, arrived at his home in Palm Beach. He has been ordered to wear a GPS monitor.

"Between 1992 and 2014 Michael Jeffries was the chief executive officer of Abercrombie and Fitch," said Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, where the indictment originated.

It alleges that the former CEO, his romantic partner, 61 year old Mathew Smith, and 71 year old James Jacobson worked together to recruit dozens of men in the United States and abroad, often paying them to attend sex events.

"These individuals are charged with running a prostitution and sex trafficking business using a combination of force, fraud, and coercion to induce victims into participating into their illegal operations," James Dennehy, from the FBI in New York said.

Jeffries and Smith were arrested in Palm Beach on Tuesday morning.

According to federal authorities, James Jacobson, known as "Mrs. Cook," was arrested in Wisconsin.

"Jacobson engaged in what's called 'tryouts' with men across the world where he would typically pay them to engage in sex acts with him," said U.S Attorney Breon Peace, said. "Following the tryouts with Jacobson, he would personally approve whether the men selected would meet Jefferies and Smith," said U.S Attorney Breon Peace.

Prosecutors in New York laid out graphic details of Jeffries and Smith crimes at their homes and hotels around the world. They said 15 victims in the complaint were recruited and provided alcohol, muscle relaxer and Viagra at the sex events.

"The defendant (Jacobson) would fly the selected men to Jefferies and Smith homes in the Hamptons, in New York or hotels around the world with the purpose of attending events and engage in commercial sex," Peace said.

Jeffries and Jacobson will be arraigned on Friday afternoon in New York. If found guilty they could face the maximum sentence of life in prison.

Ivan Cabrera

Born in Cuba, Ivan grew up in Miami. He holds a Television Seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Society.

Vanderbilt University’s $520 million campus plan in West Palm Beach, Fla., passed a major hurdle Tuesday, with the Palm Beach County Commission unanimously approving a land donation for the 300,000-square-foot project.

In August, the Nashville-based university unveiled plans to build a 1,000-student campus, which would include a main academic building, student housing and a parking garage in Downtown West Palm Beach. The satellite graduate school would focus on business, artificial intelligence and data science.

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Soon after the plans were unveiled, the West Palm Beach Commission approved a 2-acre land donation for the project. The parcels — located on South Tamarind Avenue, Evernia Street, and Fern Street — were worth at least $12.8 million.

The county’s move adds 5 acres to Vanderbilt’s tally. According to the county’s appraisal, the lots were worth $46 million.

Vanderbilt has committed to spending $300 million on the first phase of construction, which must start in the next five years, under the county’s agreement.

“We must avoid framing this as just another transaction. We must frame this as a transformational opportunity,” West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James said during the public meeting. “This is about job creation and economic prosperity for our entire region.”

Since the pandemic, high-profile finance companies such as J.P. Morgan Chase, Goldman Sach and Elliott Management have opened offices in West Palm Beach. Billionaire Stephen Ross, chairman of Related Companies and the city’s largest Class A landlord, lobbied for the Vanderbilt campus.

A common complaint from the business community about West Palm Beach and South Florida more broadly is its lack of quality schools to create a pipeline of sought-after job candidates.

Before Vanderbilt entered the picture, University of Florida was in talks to build a campus, also in West Palm Beach. But those plans fell apart after a naming disagreement with developer Jeff Greene, who owned a portion of the lots for the campus, the Palm Beach Post reported.

Julia Echikson can be reached at jechikson@commercialobserver.com.

With election season approaching, voters in Broward, Miami-Dade and West Palm Beach counties have several convenient options for casting their ballots early. Early voting offers flexibility for those who wish to avoid the crowds on General Election Day or need to fit voting into their busy schedules. This guide provides a comprehensive list of early voting locations across these counties to help ensure that every voter has the information they need to participate in the democratic process.

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3 West Palm Beach

Broward County

African-American Research Library2650 Sistrunk Boulevard (NW 6th St.)Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Broward College – A. Hugh Adams Central Campus3501 Davie Rd, Bldg. 3, Room 117Davie, FL 33314

Carver Ranches Branch Library4735 SW 18th StreetWest Park, FL 33023

Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch Library1 Park Ave EastDania Beach, FL 33004

Davie/Cooper City Branch Library4600 SW 82nd AvenueDavie, FL 33328

Emma Lou Olson Civic Center1801 NE 6th StreetPompano Beach, FL 33060

Ft. Lauderdale Branch Library/Art Serve1350 E. Sunrise BoulevardFort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Hallandale Beach Cultural Community Center410 SE 3rd StreetHallandale Beach, FL 33009

Handy, Inc1717 North Andrews AvenueFort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Hillsboro Community Center50 Hillsboro Technology DriveDeerfield Beach, FL 33441

Hollywood Branch Library2600 Hollywood BoulevardHollywood, FL 33020

Island City Cultural Center of Wilton Manors600 Northeast 21st CourtWilton Manors, FL 33305

Lauderhill Towne Centre Library6399 West Oakland Park BlvdLauderhill, FL 33313

Nob Hill Soccer Club10200 Sunset StripSunrise, FL 33322

North Lauderdale Saraniero Branch Library6901 Kimberly BoulevardNorth Lauderdale, FL 33068

North Regional Library/BC1100 Coconut Creek BoulevardCoconut Creek, FL 33066

Pine Trails Park Amphitheater10561 Trails EndParkland, FL 33076

SOE at Broward County Governmental Center115 S. Andrews Avenue, Room 110Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

SOE at E Pat Larkins Community Center520 Martin Luther King BoulevardPompano Beach, FL 33060

SOE at Lauderhill Mall1519 NW 40th AvenueLauderhill, FL 33313

SOE at Miramar Branch Library2050 Civic Center PlaceMiramar, FL 33025

SOE at Northwest Regional Library3151 University DriveCoral Springs, FL 33065

SOE at Spectrum4650 NW 21st AvenueFort Lauderdale, FL 33309

SOE at Southwest Regional Library16835 Sheridan StreetPembroke Pines, FL 33331

SOE at Tamarac Branch Library8701 W. Commercial BoulevardTamarac, FL 33321

South Regional Library/BC7300 Pines BoulevardPembroke Pines, FL 33024

Tyrone Bryant Branch Library2230 Northwest 21st AvenueFort Lauderdale, FL 33311

West Regional Library8601 W. Broward BoulevardPlantation, FL 33324

Weston Branch Library4205 Bonaventure BoulevardWeston, FL 33332

Miami-Dade County

Arcola Lakes Branch Library8240 NW 7th AvenueMiami, FL 33150

California Club Branch Library700 Ives Dairy RoadMiami, FL 33179

Coral Gables Branch Library3443 Segovia StreetCoral Gables, FL 33134

Coral Reef Branch Library9211 SW 152nd StreetMiami, FL 33157

Elections Department (Main Office)2700 NW 87th AvenueMiami, FL 33172

Florida City Youth Activity Center650 NW 5th AvenueFlorida City, FL 33034

Florida International University (Student Academic Success Center)11200 SW 8th StreetMiami, FL 33199(Entrance on SW 107th Ave. and SW 16th St.)

Historic Garage3250 S Miami AvenueMiami, FL 33129(Same property as the former Museum of Science-as you enter on the right-hand side)

Homestead Community Center (William F. “Bill” Dickinson)1601 N Krome AvenueHomestead, FL 33030

International Mall Branch Library10315 NW 12th StreetDoral, FL 33172

John F. Kennedy Library190 W 49th StreetHialeah, FL 33012

Joseph Caleb Center (Community Meeting Room)5400 NW 22nd Avenue-Building AMiami, FL 33142

Kendall Branch Library9101 SW 97th AvenueMiami, FL 33176

Kendale Lakes Branch Library15205 SW 88th StreetMiami, FL 33196

Little Haiti Cultural Complex212 NE 59th TerraceMiami, FL 33137

Miami Beach City Hall1700 Convention Center DriveMiami Beach, FL 33139

Miami Dade College Kendall Campus (The Fascell Conference Center)11011 SW 104th Street-Building KMiami, FL 33176(Entrance on SW 104th St. and SW 113th Pl.)

Miami Dade College North Campus (Library)11380 NW 27th Avenue-Building 2Miami, FL 33167

Miami Lakes Community Center (Mary Collins)15151 NW 82nd AvenueMiami Lakes, FL 33016

Naranja Branch Library14850 SW 280th StreetHomestead, FL 33032

North Dade Regional Library2455 NW 183rd StreetMiami Gardens, FL 33056

North Miami Public Library835 NE 132nd StreetNorth Miami, FL 33161

North Shore Branch Library7501 Collins AvenueMiami Beach, FL 33141

Northeast Dade-Aventura Branch Library2930 Aventura BoulevardAventura, FL 33180

Palmetto Bay Branch Library17641 Old Cutler RoadPalmetto Bay, FL 33157

Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science1101 Biscayne BoulevardMiami, FL 33132

Pinecrest Branch Library5835 SW 111th StreetPinecrest, FL 33156

Rebeca Sosa Multipurpose Facility1700 SW 62nd AvenueWest Miami, FL 33155

Shenandoah Branch Library2111 SW 19th StreetMiami, FL 33145

South Dade Regional Library10750 SW 211th StreetCutler Bay, FL 33189

Stephen P. Clark Center (Elections Branch Office)111 NW 1st Street-LobbyMiami, FL 33128

West Kendall Regional Library10201 Hammocks BoulevardMiami, FL 33196

Westchester Regional Library9445 SW 24th StreetMiami, FL 33165

West Palm Beach

Acreage Branch Library15801 Orange BlvdLoxahatchee FL 33470

Belle Glade Library/Civic Ctr725 NW 4th StBelle Glade FL 33430

Boca Raton Downtown Library400 NW 2nd AveBoca Raton FL 33432

Delray Beach Community Center50 NW 1st AveDelray Beach FL 33444

Ezell Hester Community Center1901 N Seacrest BlvdBoynton Beach FL 33435

FAU Jupiter Campus5353 Parkside DrJupiter FL 33458

Gaines Park Community Center1501 N Australian AveWest Palm Beach FL 33401

Gardens Branch Library11303 Campus DrPalm Beach Gardens FL 33410

Glades Road Branch Library20701 95th Ave SBoca Raton FL 33434

Greenacres Community Center501 Swain BlvdGreenacres FL 33463

Hagen Ranch Road Library14350 Hagen Ranch RdDelray Beach FL 33446

Jupiter Community Center200 Military TrlJupiter FL 33458

Lantana Road Branch Library4020 Lantana RdLake Worth FL 33462

Loula V York Branch Library525 Bacom Point RdPahokee FL 33476

Main Library3650 Summit BlvdWest Palm Beach FL 33406

Main Supervisor of Elections Office4301 Cherry RdWest Palm Beach FL 33409

Royal Palm Beach Branch Library500 Civic Center WayRoyal Palm Beach FL 33411

South County Civic Center16700 Jog RdDelray Beach FL 33446

Spanish River Library1501 NW Spanish River BlvdBoca Raton FL 33431

Sugar Sand Park Community Center300 S Military TrlBoca Raton FL 33486

Tequesta Council Chambers345 Tequesta DrTequesta FL 33469

Wellington Branch Library1951 Royal Fern DrWellington FL 33414

West Boca Branch Library18685 State Road 7Boca Raton FL 33498

West Boynton Branch Library9451 Jog RdBoynton Beach FL 33437

West Jupiter Rec and Community Center Complex6401 W Indiantown RdJupiter FL 33458

For more information on specific dates and times for Broward, Miami-Dade and West Palm Beach early voting, visit their respective Supervisor of Elections pages.

Vanderbilt University is officially coming to downtown West Palm Beach.

Tuesday, county commissioners approved a graduate campus after months of discussions.

Vandy will bring in a business, artificial intelligence, data science and innovation graduate campus between Fern and Datura street along Tamarind Avenue.

"We won't be known necessarily just for our golf courses and our beautiful beaches and our shopping but now for the caliber of our students who are going to be coming into our business world as top notch," said Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Sachs.

The county commission meeting was filled with community members, some of whom are Vanderbilt alumni, speaking in favor of bringing the campus to the area.

Many credit the university's efforts to give back to the community.

"The university that's in the top 20 in the country has chosen us, Palm Beach County, to be their site for graduate school and artificial intelligence and computer literacy school," said Sachs.

But only one resident opposed the project.

"I don't want to waste taxpayer money. I'm very sad about it," said Alexandria Larson.

She lives in Loxahatchee but said Vanderbilt University is not what the county should be focusing on.

"Taxpayers are broke, we're broke. And they keep subsidizing these items and we have a lot heading our way and we have no way of fixing things in the moment," said Larson. "There's other areas we could expand that won't be detrimental to the traffic, the time, patience and the taxpayers."

She's against the donation of land that has an appraisal of $46 million of county property to build the university.

WPTV took her concerns to Sachs, who supported the project.

"There was one resident that was concerned about the taxpayer money, what's your message to them?" asked WPTV's Joel Lopez.

"My message to them is, this isn't a giveaway. This is an investment. It's an investment in our students, our children, our grandchildren of tomorrow. I'm excited," said Sachs.

Vanderbilt projects an economic benefit of $7 billion in the first 25 years from annual operations and student spending, $14 billion in the first 50 years, and $24 billion in the first 75 years.

The university will create 3,500 jobs in the first 25 years, 70 jobs in the first 50 years and 103 jobs by year 75.

"That's one of our many give backs to the community to ensure that our expertise is also being utilized for the public benefit here," said Harvey Oyer, a Vanderbilt representative.

An advisory committee with the university will have one representative from all 39 municipalities.

They have also agreed to dedicating 1,000 hours annually through an urban lab where university experts help improve local infrastructure with their data and research.

"Vanderbilt University campus will have a ripple effect not just through Palm Beach County, but the entire region will benefit from it," said Oyer. "It's a historic day for our county."

There will also be scholarship opportunities for eligible local students.

The university plans to begin teaching graduate-level courses in Palm Beach County in 2026.

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